X-Rays Spex

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MLB suspends Spring Training and the start of the regular season by at least two weeks

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The Tampa Bay Rays dugout in Port Charlotte could remain empty until next season with the announcement that spring training had been suspended out of concern over Covid-19.

On Thursday, Major League Baseball officially halted on-field operations as a response to the coronavirus pandemic. Per an announcement this afternoon, Spring Training has been suspended, while the start of the regular season will be delayed by at least two weeks.

Major League Baseball’s full statement follows:

Following a call with the 30 Clubs, and after consultation with the Major League Baseball Players Association, Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr. today announced that MLB has decided to suspend Spring Training games and to delay the start of the 2020 regular season by at least two weeks due to the national emergency created by the coronavirus pandemic.  This action is being taken in the interests of the safety and well-being of our players, Clubs and our millions of loyal fans. 

MLB will continue to evaluate ongoing events leading up to the start of the season.  Guidance related to daily operations and workouts will be relayed to Clubs in the coming days.  As of 4:00 p.m. (ET) today, forthcoming Spring Training games have been cancelled, and 2020 World Baseball Classic Qualifier games in Tucson, Arizona have been postponed indefinitely.

MLB and the Clubs have been preparing a variety of contingency plans regarding the 2020 regular season schedule.  MLB will announce the effects on the schedule at an appropriate time and will remain flexible as events warrant, with the hope of resuming normal operations as soon as possible.

Nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of our players, employees and fans.  MLB will continue to undertake the precautions and best practices recommended by public health experts.  We send our best wishes to all individuals and communities that have been impacted by coronavirus.

Some teams are temporarily keeping their facilities open so players can take part in non-mandatory workouts. Yet, due to the nature of this fluid situation, it remains to be seen how long camps will remain open.

As Mark Polishuk (MLB Trade Rumors) writes, a delay beyond April 9 could result in a shorter season.

Should the halt in activities last far beyond April 9, a full 162-game season may not be feasible, unless the league was open to pushing the postseason fairly deep into November.  At this point, MLB’s “variety of contingency plans” surely involves scenarios for a shortened season, perhaps akin to the 144-game 1995 season that didn’t begin until April 25 due to the players’ strike.

— Mark Polishuk

Rays players, coaches, and executives agree that while odd, the decision is the right one. Rays manager Kevin Cash called the day surreal as rumors swirled that play would be suspended throughout the day.

It was very odd, knowing that this most likely was going to happen. To what extent we didn’t know, but it was a very odd day at the ballpark.

— Kevin Cash

When asked if it was disappointing to have the 2020 season put on pause, Cash said that is not his focus at the moment.

That’s very much secondary, back burner to what’s taken place right now in the world. Our season will be played when it’s time.

— Kevin Cash

Rays general manager Erik Neander said Friday will essentially be an off day. The players will meet at 10:00 am, after which they will leave the facility in Port Charlotte in hopes of eventually knowing more about a plan moving forward.

Clarity, however, is not guaranteed.

Right now we’re not in a position to be prepared with any sort of confidence to speak to what we’re going to be doing, three, four, five, six, seven days from now. I think just out of respect for the little that we know and how this has evolved it has to be very much a day-to-day consideration.

— Erik Neander

The team released the following statement agreeing with the league’s decision to suspend both Spring Training and the regular season.

Today, Major League Baseball announced the suspension of the remainder of spring training and the delay of the 2020 regular season. The health and safety of our staff, players, fans and the entire Tampa Bay community is of the utmost importance to us, and we fully support this decision.

The Rays will continue to closely monitor the situation and work with local and state authorities, as well as our partners in MLB as this situation evolves. As soon as information becomes available regarding the start of the 2020 season, including ticketing information, we will make additional announcements. We appreciate your patience as we all manage the impacts of COVID-19.

X-Rays Spex is committed to keeping you updated on the situation as it evolves. Keep checking back. With this in mind, staying informed is critical, and what follows are some important links that are worth your while.

— Not into what could be construed as over-sensationalized news of the pandemic? Your first stop should be the Florida Department of Health’s Covid-19 information website, which is regularly updated.

— Don’t live in Florida? The World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also feature the most current information.

— The Washington Post has a visual illustration of how diseases spread

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Rays spring notes: coronavirus, roster cuts, simulated games, and more

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The scene inside the Rays media tent in Port Charlotte.

The Tampa Bay Rays took of the Boston Red Sox, in Port Charlotte, on the first day of camp with the updated rules related to the coronavirus pandemic.

All locker rooms and clubhouses will only be open to players and essential club employees until further notice. During this period, those prohibited from the clubhouse include credentialed media, team staff, family members, guests, and outside vendors.

Players, as well as Manager Kevin Cash, said the situation is different, although they understand the nuts and bolts of the circumstances.

This is pretty unique. Everybody involved including MLB is trying to be smart about it. Educated people a heck of a lot more educated than me are making these decisions, so we go with them and we listen.

— Kevin Cash

Kevin Kiermaier said there are serious concerns among the players.

I think it’s very, very scary and you just hope we’re doing all the right things necessary to keep us out of harm’s way. Everyone throughout the whole world, the same thing.

— Kevin Kiermaier

While inconvenient, these are ultimately small steps put in place by Major League Baseball — measures that will fade once the pandemic scare is reduced.

However, bigger changes could be coming in the short-term. Some teams, like the Mariners, have been told they won’t be allowed to play games in Seattle at the start of the season. There is also increasing discussion of games being played throughout the league without fans.

It’s looking like a miracle if U.S. sports doesn’t shut down for a while, and maybe it really should

While unprecedented in the United States, sporting events in Italy have been canceled at least until the end of the month. Meanwhile, Japanese officials postponed the start of the 12-team professional baseball league season on Monday because of the spread of the coronavirus which is responsible for COVID-19.

Kiermaier, the longest-tenured Ray, said the unusual time calls for unprecedented measures.

We’re in an industry where everyone is obviously trying, our team, our organization is looking out for each and every player.

It’s wild to think about, but if that’s what it’s going to take then we have to adapt and be open with whatever is asked of us. There is no way around it. If it comes to that, then so be it. Obviously, we want to play in front of our fans and on the road. That’s just the way the game is supposed to be played. But we’ve never seen anything quite like this before.

— Kevin Kiermaier

MLB has indicated an awareness of the situation and acknowledged the “fluidity” inherent to it. One would imagine that the urgency of the matter will lead the league to take a leadership position as the dangers become all the more evident.

Prior to Wednesday’s contest, Tampa Bay announced six more roster cuts, reducing the total number of players in big-league camp to 54. The latest group includes C Rene Pinto, 1B/OF Dalton Kelly, INF Miles Mastrobuoni, OF Ryan LaMarre, and right-handed pitchers Joe Ryan and Tyler Zombro.

The updated roster is below; players designated with an asterisk are non-roster invites:

Pitchers — Jose Alvarado, Nick Anderson, Anthony Banda, Jalen Beeks, Diego Castillo, Yonny Chirinos, Dylan Covey*, John Curtiss*, Oliver Drake, Pete Fairbanks, Josh Fleming*, Sean Gilmartin*, Tyler Glasnow, Andrew Kittredge, Aaron Loup*, Shane McClanahan*, Charlie Morton, Deck McGuire*, Brendan McKay, Sam McWilliams*, Colin Poche, Brooks Pounders*, Trevor Richards, Chaz Roe, Phoenix Sanders*, Ryan Sherriff*, Aaron Slegers*, Blake Snell, DJ Snelten*, Ryan Thompson*, Ryan Yarbrough.

Catchers — Chris Herrmann*, Michael Perez, Kevan Smith,* Brett Sullivan*, Mike Zunino

Infielders — Willy Adames, Mike Brosseau, Ji-Man Choi, Yandy Diaz, Brandon Lowe, Nathaniel Lowe, Jose Martinez, Daniel Robertson, Taylor Walls*, Joey Wendle.

Outfielders — Randy Arozarena, Dylan Cozens*, Kevin Kiermaier, Manuel Margot, Austin Meadows, Brian O’Grady, Hunter Renfroe, Yoshi Tsutsugo.

In exhibition game action, Tampa Bay fell to Boston 3-1 under the lights. Rays No. 7 prospect, Shane McClanahan, got the start and continued to gas the opposition — lighting up the radar gun by hitting 99 mph a handful of times and topping out at 100 mph. Yet, while his velocity is great, McClanahan says he feels he needs to be in the strike zone more frequently.

I don’t measure success by velocity. A 100 is cool but it doesn’t matter if it’s not in the zone. Just ultimately learn from it, work on it, get back out there and fill up the zone.

— Shane McClanahan

McClanahan threw 20 of 33 pitches for strikes (61% strike rate) across 1-1/3 innings, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out one.

McClanahan gave credit to the defense for getting him out of the early jam.

Yandy (Diaz) made a great dive. Ji-Man had a hell of an effort to get back to first. Lots of good plays behind me.

— Shane McClanahan

Manager Cash said McClanahan could become a piece to the 2020 puzzle at some point this season.

You don’t see many 98 mph fastballs, with just unhittable breaking balls when they’re right in the zone. And that’s kind of what we’ve seen out of him. A lot to be excited about with him and a lot of the other guys.

— Kevin Cash

The New What Next

Brendan McKay will make his second Grapefruit League appearance — first start — Thursday afternoon against the Phillies, in Port Charlotte. José Alvarado, Chaz Roe, and Colin Poche are also slated to pitch for Tampa Bay.

Rays 3/12/20 Starting Lineup

  1. Meadows LF
  2. Zunino C
  3. Tsutsugo DH
  4. Renfroe RF
  5. Kiermaier CF
  6. Martinez 1B
  7. Wendle SS
  8. N. Lowe 3B
  9. Robertson 2B
  10. McKay LHP

Noteworthiness

— On Tuesday, Ryan Yarbrough, Tyler Glasnow and Pete Fairbanks pitched in a simulated game on the backfields.

Yarbrough pitched to catcher Kevan Smith and faced Nate Lowe, Mike Zunino, and Daniel Robertson. He worked four innings and threw 60 pitches (40 strikes, 67% strike rate).

Cash was impressed by what he saw.

His ball moves everywhere. The late movement that he can create is really, really impressive. You understand why he’s had so much success in his first two seasons.

— Kevin Cash

Glasnow pitched to Zunino and faced Lowe, Smith, and Robertson, pitching three innings and throwing 50 pitches (27 strikes, 54% strike rate). Fairbanks also pitched to Zunino and faced Lowe, Smith and Robertson. Fairbanks pitched one frame and threw 21 pitches (14 strikes, 67% strike rate).

— Blake Snell is slated to throw a simulated game Saturday in Port Charlotte since he was lined up to face the Blue Jays three consecutive times.

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Snell frustrated by 1/3 inning outing; off-day Noteworthiness

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Blake Snell threw 16 of 22 pitches for balls (27% strike rate) on Monday. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Times)

10 days after receiving a cortisone shot in his left elbow, Blake Snell made his triumphant return to the mound in what would go down as a frustrating 22-pitch, 1/3 of an inning outing on Monday. Snell walked four of the five batters he faced and threw just six total strikes, good for a 27% strike rate.

Yet, as frustrating as Monday afternoon was for the left-hander, Snell’s elbow appeared healthy and his fastball was clocked at 97-98 mph on the in house radar gun in Dunedin — two-to-three miles per hour faster than his highest reading last season.

Still, the issue at hand was Snell’s fastball control and command, or lack thereof. He repeatedly missed high and outside to right-handed hitters (or high and inside to southpaws), acknowledging that he was opening up too much while throwing his fastball.

When my arm feels that good, I can’t allow four walks. That’s just ridiculous, honestly. Four walks, that’s brutal.

— Blake Snell

He did have a good feel for his slider, which was the only pitch that he threw to induce a whiff against Toronto.

Rays manager Kevin Cash chalked up the frustrating outing to Snell being overamped as he tried to prove that he is not ailing.

He probably went out there with the thought that, I don’t know, putting too much on to show that he was healthy. … But we checked the box that he’s back out there. Looked very, very much healthy.

— Kevin Cash

Also aggravating for the former Cy Young Award winner, the February 28th cortisone shot forced him to restart his spring program. Ideally speaking, Monday’s outing should have been closer to four or five innings, or 60-75 pitches. Now, due to the delay, Snell is likely to be set back until the second or third series of the season.

Disappointments aside, Snell took the frustrating outing in stride, striking a very Charlie Morton like tone, saying, “It’s good to see failure because I was feeling so good and so confident. To fail is always good because that’s what I’m going to learn the most from. To go out there, feel that great and fail, I think I’m going to learn a lot more about that.”

Snell still feels like he can use the remaining three-plus weeks to make sure he’s ready for Opening Day.

It’s time to lock in and get going because it’s a big year for us and I got to be on it.

— Blake Snell

Noteworthiness

— Jalen Beeks and Andrew Kittredge combined for five innings of work on Monday, another step-up in pitch count as Tampa Bay looks to keep both as realistic options for bulk innings or spot starts.

— With a well-deserved off-day slated for Tuesday, snapping a 17-game spate of play which included a pair of split-squad matchups, Zachary Silver (MLB.com) sat down with the Rays skipper for a brief Spring Training mid-term evaluation.

Cash expressed a great deal of confidence with what he’s seen so far.

I think that camp has gone really, really well. We’ve avoided injuries, major injuries to date. We got to see some players that we’re really excited about. … Our new guys seem to be fitting in really, really well in the clubhouse. It’s basically all you can ask for.

— Kevin Cash

Cash welcomed the brief respite, especially since his club has averaged just two-runs per game across the last six contests.

Welcome? It’s very welcome. Our last couple days, I think we showed it on the field. Everybody hit that lull, so the off-day will be good, and hopefully we can come back a little energized from that.

— Kevin Cash

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LBWMF: Morton throws a simulated game, the Rays tie the Pirates, and the first roster moves are announced

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Guillermo Heredia’s legs weren’t the only things tied up by the end of Sunday’s 2-2 ballgame against the Pirates, on Sunday. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

While the Tampa Bay Rays played an exhibition game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday, resulting in a 2-2 tie, Charlie Morton got in a 60+ pitch simulated ballgame on the backfields of Charlotte Sports Park.

Morton got four ups and downs — the equivalent of four innings of work — and threw more than 60 pitches while facing his teammates in the simulated game. The right-hander felt that while he got in more work than he anticipated, that work was productive.

My second up, I couldn’t throw a strike and that gave me an opportunity to make some corrections, which I did.

— Charlie Morton

Kyle Snyder was behind Morton, voicing any concerns that popped up given that “some bad habits you can get to (and fix) early,” Morton said.

Morton was able to increase his pitch count and use all four pitches without worry that the Pirates, whom the Rays will face on March 26th — and who they squared off against on Sunday — would catch on.

Morton will throw a five-inning/75-pitch simulated game his next time out followed by one last Grapefruit League outing before his likely first Opening Day start in his 13-year career.

It’d be special. It’s an honor. It’s something that most guys will tell you that they’d like to do it at least once.

— Charlie Morton

Meanwhile, Josh Fleming, the Montgomery Biscuits’ MVP last season, made the start against the Pirates. Fleming allowed a run on a walk and a bloop single across three innings of work. He struck out two and threw 37 pitches (23 strikes, 62% strike rate).

He’s going to be a fun guy to follow this year. He can really pitch, he can really change speeds, and he uses both sides of the plate. He’s confident throwing off-speed pitches at any time in the count.

— Kevin Cash

Relievers Nick Anderson and Oliver Drake each threw scoreless frames. Anderson told Neil Solondz he feels good about where he is this spring.

Just working on stuff every day, trying to get comfortable on the mound again. Getting out there frequently and feeling better.

— Nick Anderson

You can hear Anderson’s interview in its entirety on the SoundCloud player below, courtesy of Rays Radio.

Prior to the start of Sunday’s contest, Tampa Bay made its first cuts of the spring, reducing the spring roster from 67 to 60. All of the moves were expected.

The Rays optioned Lucius Fox, Vidal Brujan, Ronaldo Hernandez, Kevin Padlo, and Brent Honeywell. Right-handers Paul Campbell and Tristan Gray were reassigned to minor league camp.

I think all those guys made really good impressions. All were positive conversations and time for them to get down there.

— Kevin Cash

Honeywell has been throwing bullpens as he continues to rehab from Tommy John surgery and a fracture in his throwing arm. Campbell was delayed due to injury at the start of camp, while Padlo was absent from camp for a couple of weeks due to severe headaches that are being controlled with medication.

Manager Kevin Cash was especially impressed by Brujan and Fox.

Brujan’s really athletic, can play second and short, and shows a knack at the plate. I think Lucius the same way. We challenged him a little bit, sticking him in the outfield. He seemed to be comfortable with that.

— Kevin Cash

With minor-league Spring Training contests still about a week away, more roster cuts can be expected over the next few days.

The New What Next

Blake Snell will take the mound on Monday, in Dunedin, a little over a week after receiving a cortisone shot in his left elbow. He’ll be opposed by the Blue Jays’ ace, lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu.

Rays 3/9/20 Starting Lineup

  1. Tsutsugo 3B
  2. Martínez 1B
  3. Kiermaier CF
  4. Adames SS
  5. Wendle 2B
  6. Robertson DH
  7. Perez C
  8. LaMarre LF
  9. O’Grady RF
  10. Snell LHP

Noteworthiness

— Yoshi Tsutsugo will make his first start away from the Charlotte Sports Park on Monday.

Tsutsugo is slated to play third base against the Blue Jays — making his fourth start at the hot corner. Tsutsugo has put together a solid spring thus far, slashing .250 BA/.348 OBP/.450 SLG/.798 OPS with a home run and three RBI while splitting time between third base and left field.

— After throwing an impressive scoreless inning on Friday, two-way player Brendan McKay will make his first spring start on Thursday against the Phillies. McKay has yet to step into a batter’s box during an exhibition game this spring.

— The Rays and Austin Meadows have begun preliminary discussions about a potential extension. Per Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times), both sides are open to the possibility, although talks have not yet reached the exchange-of-numbers stage. Locking up the soon-to-be 25-year-old, who slashed .291 BA/.364 OBP/.558 SLG/.922 OPS with 33 home runs, 89 RBI, and a 142 wRC+ last season, would certainly be a boon for the ball club.

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LBWMF: Chirinos and McKay impressive on Friday; notes on Morton and Honeywell

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Brendan McKay was strong in his first spring outing, on Friday.

Yonny Chirinos bounced back on the mound in his third start of the spring on Friday, while Brendan McKay was as impressive in his first Grapefruit League appearance.

Chirinos allowed just two hits while striking out a pair across three innings on 45 pitches (32 strikes, 71% strike rate). Chirinos topped out at 96 mph on the in house gun.

That was the first time that really this Spring I’ve been able to throw that hard. I didn’t expect it, but doing what I did in the off-season and the training that I did I feel like that’s been a result of it.

— Yonny Chirinos

McKay, who started late due to shoulder stiffness, was also impressive. After falling behind Jorge Polanco 3-and-0, the southpaw threw 10 of the next 13 pitches for strikes. He caught Josh Donaldson looking on a fastball, coaxed fly ball outs from Polanco and Marwin Gonzalez, and boasted a heater that peaked at 94 mph (and clocked in at 93-94 mph consistently) on 16 pitches (10 strikes, 63% strike rate). The only base runner McKay allowed came on an error, when he dropped Ji-Man Choi’s throw at first.

Felt good. Getting back out there, getting live competition, I was kind of going crazy just not being in there. But it is what it is, hopefully we’re passed it now and can move on and start preparing for a season now.

— Brendan McKay

McKay said he wants to be more conscious of adding a changeup, which he displayed on Friday, to his pitch mix.

Me being critical of myself, they weren’t as great as the one’s I’ve thrown before but that could’ve been the adrenaline. You’re trying to throw your best pitch and it doesn’t really turn out the way you want it and you’re taking away from the pitch itself rather than just letting it settle in and take over from there.

— Brendan McKay

McKay is a candidate to end up in the Opening Week rotation, especially if Blake Snell’s availability slightly in question … that is if he can get built up to a five-inning workload.

We’ve got plenty of time.

— Brendan McKay

Because of the shoulder stiffness that pushed him back a bit, Rays skipper Kevin Cash said the team will probably abandon the plan to move McKay from a six-day pitching schedule to the more standard five-day schedule to try to keep him healthy.

He’s going to be involved, in some way or form, he’ll be involved. We have to get him built up before we make those decisions.

— Kevin Cash

Even though Jose Alvarado allowed a fifth-inning run, the left-hander looked good once again. His lone tally came during what should have been a 1-2-3 frame, yet Tampa Bay could not convert a potential 3-1 putout.

USF product, LHP Shane McClanahan, dazzled once more, allowing just a single then striking out the next three batters he faced in the eighth inning. McClanahan’s fastball clocked in at 99 mph.

The left-hander has faced 26 batters across five games and struck out 10.

He’s fun to watch. A lot of talk about him for good reason.

— Kevin Cash

Cash also said he expects that McClanahan, who has been used in one-inning stints, to start the 2020 season as a starter. He is expected to get stretched out as the spring progresses.

The New What Next

The Rays will play host to the Orioles on Saturday and visit that team from Atlanta in split-squad play. Top prospect Wander Franco is listed as a reserve in the game against Atlanta. Sean Gilmartin is scheduled to start in Port Charlotte, while Joe Ryan will start the game against Atlanta.

Rays 3/7/20 Starting Lineup vs. BAL

  1. Meadows DH
  2. Adames SS
  3. B. Lowe 2B
  4. Diaz 3B
  5. Tsutsugo LF
  6. Martinez 1B
  7. Kiermaier CF
  8. Zunino C
  9. Margot RF
  10. Gilmartin LHP

Rays 3/7/20 Starting Lineup vs. ATL

  1. Arozarena LF
  2. Herrmann C
  3. Renfroe RF
  4. Choi 1B
  5. Wendle SS
  6. Robertson 2B
  7. Cozens DH
  8. Brosseau 2B
  9. LeMarre CF
  10. Ryan RHP

Noteworthiness

— Charlie Morton won’t make his scheduled start on Sunday, pitching instead in a simulated game on a backfield. The right-hander said it’s to give him a chance to build up his pitch count and innings in a controlled environment than avoiding the team he likely will face in the March 26 opener.

Morton plans to get to 60 pitches Sunday before he will throw again on the back fields to get to 75. From there, he is expected to pitch in a final regular spring game.

— Brent Honeywell “looked good” in his third bullpen session of the spring, Cash said. Honeywell mixed in about five changeups to his 20 pitch outing on Tuesday and Friday.

It has been kind of a long week, so a little tired, but everything is going well. … It’s bouncing back a little differently than Tommy John, so that’s good. Everything, as of right now, is on the right track. I like where I’m at right now.

— Brent Honeywell
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